Maneuverable Domestic Cleaning Appliance

ABSTRACT

An upright floor vacuum cleaner comprising (a) a base having a vacuum nozzle disposed for cleaning the floor; (b) an upright handle having one end thereof connected to the base for pivotal movement thereon about a generally horizontal axis; (c) a suction source operative, upon energization, to create a vacuum in said nozzle; and, (d) a plurality of freely rotatable wheels mounted on said base each fully castered about a vertical axis and operative to permit free omni directional movement in translation and rotation of the base on the floor.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to domestic cleaning appliances, such asupright vacuum cleaners or sweepers which are easy to maneuver. Oneknown type of upright vacuum cleaner is the “stick” or “broom” typewhich usually includes a self-contained power source or battery pack.Such vacuum cleaners may have a removable cup or container located inthe upright handle for collecting dirt vacuumed from a floor instead ofa replaceable filter bag. Another such known appliance is a sweeperwhich may also be provided with a suction motor. However, in a sweeper,the dirt container is mounted to the base, and not to the handle.Similarly, the power source, if there is one, is mounted to the base.Still other appliances of this sort are hard floor cleaners and carpetextractors. Stick or broom type vacuum cleaners, as well as sweepers,have the advantage or attraction of being lighter in weight and easierfor the user to maneuver over a floor surface to be cleaned.

Stick or broom type upright vacuum cleaners have the handle connected tothe base, or floor engaging portion of the vacuum cleaner, in a mannerpivoting the handle on the base about an axis horizontal or parallel ofthe floor to be cleaned. Sweepers are similarly arranged. Thus, theupright handle has a single degree of motion i.e. pivoting in a singleplane with respect to the base of the cleaning appliance.

Heretofore, such cleaning appliances with a single degree of freedomupright handle have employed a pair of rollers rotating about an axisparallel to the pivot axis of the handle. Some also included and mayhave an auxiliary wheel which is castered for facilitating rotation ofthe vacuum cleaner base about a vertical axis. The aforesaid wheel andcaster arrangements of stick or broom type upright vacuum cleaners aswell as sweepers have thus permitted translation movement of thecleaning appliance only in a direction perpendicular to the axis ofrotation of the main wheels. Thus, sideways translation or lateralmovement of the cleaning appliance has been precluded. This restrictionon lateral movement or limitation of movement to a single back and forthdirection has been found to be a disadvantage in floor cleaning.Additional maneuverability for such cleaning appliances over the surfaceto be cleaned has been desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A cleaning appliance comprising (a) a base having a vacuum nozzledisposed for cleaning the floor; (b) an upright handle having one endthereof connected to the base for pivotal movement thereon about agenerally horizontal axis; (c) a suction source operative, uponenergization, to create a vacuum in said nozzle; and, (d) a plurality offreely rotatable wheel assemblies or roller assemblies mounted on saidbase, each being fully rotatable about a vertical axis and operative topermit free omni directional movement in translation and rotation of thebase on the floor.

A cleaning appliance comprising (a) a base portion including a nozzle;(b) an upright handle portion pivotally mounted to said base portion;(c) a vacuum generator disposed in one of said handle portion and thebase and communicating with the nozzle; and, (d) a plurality of wheelsor rollers mounted to the base portion for free rolling arrangementwherein an axis of each wheel or roller is mounted for full rotationabout a generally vertical axis, or alternatively, socket mountedspherical rollers.

A cleaning appliance comprising (a) base portion including a suctionnozzle for movement over a floor surface to be cleaned; (b) an uprighthandle pivotally mounted to the base and including a suction generatoroperatively connected to the suction nozzle; (c) a user removable dirtcup assembly including a filter disposed thereon associated with one ofthe upright handle and the base portion; and, (d) a wiper for agitatingthe filter during removal for effecting shaking of dirt from the filterinto the dirt cup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric external view of the upright vacuum cleaner ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation view of the base portion of thevacuum of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the base portion ofthe vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the mounting of a castered wheel of thevacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the wheel mounting of FIG. 4on a reduced scale;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged bottom view of the base portion of the vacuumcleaner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation view of a removable dust or dirtcollector cup of the vacuum of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the dirt cup of FIG. 7 showing a filtersubassembly and with a conduit removed;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view from below of the filtersubassembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view from above of the filter subassembly ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the filter compartment andthe dirt cup compartment in the handle of the vacuum of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the vacuum ofFIG. 1 showing the installation of filter wipers in the handle;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the handle assembly of thevacuum of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of a battery charger and holder for thevacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the detailed description the domestic cleaning appliance will bediscussed in the form of an upright vacuum cleaner. However, it shouldbe appreciated that the appliance could also be a sweeper or a similardevice. In addition, the disclosure is applicable to hard floor cleanerswhich employ a nozzle, as well as carpet extractors and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, an upright vacuum cleaner of the present disclosureis illustrated in an exemplary embodiment indicated generally at 10.More particularly, a “stick vac” is shown. However, it should beappreciated that the present disclosure is also applicable to othertypes of upright vacuum cleaners, as well as various other domesticfloor care appliances. The vacuum cleaner includes a base or floorengaging portion indicated generally at 12 and a handle assemblygenerally indicated at 14. The handle assembly has an upper handleportion 16 and an enlarged lower section 18, which is pivotallyconnected to the base indicated generally at 12, as will hereinafter bedescribed. The enlarged portion 18 of the handle has disposed therein asource of power such as a battery pack and a vacuum generator which maybe of the form of a direct current motor driving a rotating fan, as willhereinafter be described in greater detail. Alternatively, the source ofpower and vacuum generator may be disposed in base 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, the floor engaging portion or base 12 has aplatform or deck 20 with a cover or hood 22 disposed over the pivotalconnection of the handle lower portion 18. Shown in FIG. 2 is anoptional floor engaging brush or wiper 24.

Referring to FIG. 3, the base 12 has the deck or platform 20 providedwith three hollow caster receiving towers 28, 30, 32 thereon. Centrallydisposed is a cradle 34 having spaced aligned bearing surfaces 36, 38upon which are journalled oppositely disposed trunnions, such astrunnion 40 disposed on a handle barrel 42. The trunnion 40 isjournalled in the bearing 38. An oppositely disposed trunnion (notshown) is similarly journalled in bearing 36.

Deck 20 has a floor nozzle aperture 44 formed therein, between the sidesof the cradle 34. Also provided in the deck 20 is a slot 45 (shown inFIGS. 1 and 6) which communicates with the floor nozzle 44. This slotenables a pickup of larger items by the vacuum cleaner. A subassembly ofnozzle forming pieces, indicated generally at 46, is secured to thecradle 34 to provide the suction nozzle on the deck 20. Handle barrel 42has a passage 48 formed therein generally at right angles to the axis ofthe trunnion 40, which passage communicates at its lower end (not shown)with the nozzle passage formed by the subassembly 46. Connected to thepassage 48 and secured thereon by suitable clamp members 52, 54 is ahandle attachment tube or adapter 50. The pivoted handle barrel 42 andhandle adapter 50 are covered by hood 22, which is secured on the deck20 by a clamping band 52. It should be appreciated that the band 52 mayalso serve as a bumper for the platform 12.

It will be understood that the adapter 50 is hollow and has a passage 58therethrough which communicates with the suction passage 48 in thebarrel 42. Thus, an air path is defined from the floor nozzle aperture44 upwardly through the adapter 50. It will be understood that, with thelower end of upright handle 10 connected to adaptor 50, the handle 10 ispivoted on base 12 only about the axis of the trunnions journalled inaligned bearings 36, 38 and this pivots only in a single plane aboutbase 12.

Received in each of the caster towers 28, 30, 32 of the deck fromunderneath, is a respective caster from caster subassemblies 60, 62, 64as will hereinafter be described.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the caster subassembly 62 is received ina well 31 formed in the underside of caster tower 30. Caster subassembly60 is received in a well 29 formed in the undersurface of caster tower28; and, caster subassembly 64 is received in a well 33 formed in theundersurface of caster tower 32 as shown in FIG. 6. It should beappreciated that the caster subassemblies are countersunk in the base12. While three such subassemblies are illustrated in this exemplaryembodiment, other embodiments are also contemplated. A recessed area 66can be defined in the bottom face of the base 12.

Referring to FIG. 5, the construction of the caster subassemblies 60,62, 64 is indicated. It should be appreciated that the threesubassemblies can have the same construction. Typically, a plate 68 hasa central hub 70 into which is received, such as by press-fitting, aneedle bearing 72. Journalled into the bearing 72 is the upper end 74 ofa contra curved axle member indicated generally at 76. Plate 68 issecured to the undersurface of the caster towers 28, 30, 32 by suitablefasteners such as screws 79 (not shown in FIG. 5, but see FIG. 6)received through the three apertures 78, 80, 82 provided in the plate68. The lower portion or wheel axle portion 84 of axle 76 has disposedthereon a roller race bearing 86 which is received in wheel hub 88.Secured over wheel hub 88 is a floor wheel or cap member 90. Whileneedle bearings and roller bearings have been described, it should beappreciated that sintered bearings can be used instead.

With reference again to the axle member 76, which can be a wireform orthe like, it includes three straight sections connected by two bentportions. The first straight section is defined by the upper section 74.Connecting it to a first end of a second straight section 75 is a firstbent portion 77. A second bent portion 79 connects a second end of thesecond straight section 75 to the third straight section, defined by thelower portion 84. A first mounting end 81 is located on the axle member76. Also, a roll pin 83, or the like, is employed to hold the needlebearing 72 in the correct location on the axle member 76. To this end,an aperture 85 extends through the axle member 76 for accommodating theroll pin. Located on an opposite end of the axle member 76 is a secondmounting end 87.

It should be appreciated that in this design, the axle member 76includes reduced diameter sections 89A and 89B respectively on the upperend 74 and the lower end 84 for accommodating the bearings 72 and 86.Alternatively, the wheel bearings, such as 86 may be eliminated and thewheels journalled directly on the axle surface 89B. With this doublecurved design, the axle member 76 allows a low profile mounting of thewheel assembly 88, 90. Thus, despite the presence of two bearings 72 and86, which enable unrestricted rotation or swiveling of both the axlemember 76 and the wheel assembly 88, 90, the wheels do not space thebase 12 so far from the floor surface being cleaned as to hinder theoperation of the suction nozzle 44. Of course, the countersunk nature ofthe plate 68 in the deck 20 aids in this regard.

Although the presently disclosed embodiment utilizes fully castered axlemounted wheels, alternatively, socket mounted omni directional sphericalrollers may be employed.

Referring to FIGS. 1, and 7-10, mounted to the enlarged diameter portion18 of the upright handle 10 is a dirt cup assembly indicated generallyat 92. Attached thereto is an air flow tube 94 which communicates at itsupper end with the interior of the dirt cup, through aperture 96. Alower end of tube 94 is configured to be received over the upper end 58of the adaptor 50 (see FIG. 3) for communicating suction air flow fromthe floor nozzle to the dirt cup.

Mounted to the upper end of the dirt cup 92 is a filter assembly,indicated generally at 98. This is mounted on an adapter 100 which has abaffle or deflector 102 for deflecting dirt and foreign particles awayfrom the filter to minimize direct impact thereon. The filter assembly98, which can include a pleated filter material, is removable from theadaptor 100 for cleaning by snap tabs 106 provided on the adaptor.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the enlarged portion 18 of the uprighthandle is shown with the dirt cup assembly removed to illustrate thecover 106 for the filter assembly and a pair of stationary wipers 108,110. These, upon removal of the dirt cup and filter assembly, wipeacross the surface of the filter material 104 to provide an agitation.This action shakes the dirt or other material retained on the windwardor underside of the filter and enables it to fall into the dirt cup.Extending into the filter cover 106 are the vanes 112 of a suction fanfor directing flow upward, as will hereinafter be described.

A release button 114 for permitting the filter cup assembly to beremoved, is shown in FIG. 11. Upon pushing the release button 114, aspring 116 causes a partial ejection of the dirt cup assembly 92 tofacilitate user removal thereof. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, release button 114 operates a latch mechanism indicatedgenerally at 118 in FIG. 13 for releasing the upper end of the dirt cupassembly 92.

Referring to FIG. 13, the enlarged diameter portion 18 of the uprighthandle has a half shell portion 120 onto which is mounted a battery packassembly 122. The half shell portion 120 also houses a vacuum or suctiongenerator assembly indicated generally at 124 which includes a motor 126and a motor driven fan 128. These are mounted over the filter cover tocreate air flow from the floor upwardly through the floor nozzle, tube94, dirt cup 92 and filter assembly 98. The air is discharged through acover or grill 130 disposed over an aperture 132 provided in the handleportion 18. The motor has terminals 127 thereon which engagecorresponding terminals (not shown) on the battery pack 122.

A motor switch, actuator rod and switch button assembly 134 are disposedin the upper handle for permitting the user to energize the motor fromthe battery pack by moving the remote switch button in the upper end ofthe handle, as denoted by reference numeral 136.

Although the presently described embodiment has the dirt cup assembly,filter, vacuum generator disposed in the upright handle, these may,alternatively, be disposed in base 12.

Referring to FIG. 14, a charger assembly is indicated generally at 138.It includes a tray 140 having three apertures 142, 144, 146 therein,disposed in spaced arrangement thereabout and located to each provideclearance for receiving one of the casters 60, 62, 64 therein. The trayhas provided thereon a tower 148, which has unshown electrical contactsprovided thereon for engaging corresponding electrical contacts 150provided on the undersurface of platform 26 (see FIG. 6). These areconnected to the battery pack 122. The tray includes a receptacle 152which is adapted to have an end of a charger cord which is connected toa remote charger 156 engaged therewith for recharging the battery. Asupport frame 158 has the tray 140 mounted thereon for supporting thetray when the vacuum cleaner is resting on the tray for charging.

The present disclosure thus describes an exemplary embodiment of anupright vacuum cleaner having freely rotating, fully swiveling wheelsfor a wheeled base or platform. This allows for omni directionaltranslation and rotation of the base section of the upright vacuumcleaner over a floor to be cleaned. In the embodiment disclosed, all ofthe wheel assemblies 60, 62, 64 are mounted inside the cover or hood 22.This construction allows for a smaller footprint for the base 12 incomparison to conventional nozzle base designs.

Even though the handle assembly 14 only pivots on a single axis,extending through trunnion 40, the base 12 can be oriented in anydesired direction by twisting the handle assembly around itslongitudinal axis 170 (FIG. 1). In other words, while the handle onlymoves from a vertical orientation shown in FIG. 1 to an acute angle inrelation to the floor surface which is being cleaned (such that handleadapter 50 enters a recessed area 172 defined in the hood 22, see FIG.3) the base 12 can be freely rotated, due to the presence of the severalcastered wheel assemblies.

The vacuum cleaner includes a dirt cup removable from the uprighthandle. Upon removal of the dirt cup, the wipers agitate the filtermounted to the dirt cup, to cause the dirt collection on the filter tofall into the cup. This reduces the messiness of emptying the dirt cupand cleaning the filter.

The present disclosure describes an upright vacuum cleaner of the typehaving an on-board source of power for the vacuum generator or motor andwith an upright handle pivotally connected to the floor engaging basefor movement about an axis generally horizontal or parallel to thefloor. The upright vacuum of the present disclosure has the base orfloor engaging portion provided with three freely rolling wheels eachfully castered or swivelable about a vertical axis to permit omnidirectional movement of the vacuum cleaner in translation and rotation.The upright vacuum of the present disclosure thus provides a highlymaneuverable vacuum for cleaning a floor surface. The vacuum cleaner hasa nozzle in the base which is connected to the vacuum generator fordrawing dirt and foreign matter from the floor into a removable cupwhich may be conveniently emptied by the user. The cup has an air flowfilter thereover which is agitated by wipers, upon removal of the cup,to shake dirt collected on the filter into the cup.

The disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur toothers upon reading and understanding the preceding detaileddescription. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construedas including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they comewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A cleaning appliance comprising: (a) a base having a vacuum nozzledisposed for cleaning the floor; (b) an upright handle having one endthereof connected to the base for pivotal movement thereon about agenerally horizontal axis; (c) a suction source operative, uponenergization, to create a vacuum in said nozzle; and, (d) a plurality offreely rotatable wheel assemblies or roller assemblies mounted on saidbase, each being fully rotatable about a vertical axis and operative topermit free omni directional movement in translation and rotation of thebase on the floor.
 2. The appliance defined in claim 1, wherein saidwheel assemblies each include wheels that are each mounted on an axlehaving a skewed orientation with respect to the floor.
 3. The appliancedefined in claim 2, wherein said axle comprises three straight sectionsconnected by two bent sections.
 4. The appliance defined in claim 2,wherein said axle is formed integrally from a one-piece member.
 5. Theappliance defined in claim 2, wherein each wheel is mounted on itsrespective axle by a first bearing and the axle is mounted to said baseby a second bearing.
 6. The appliance defined in claim 5, wherein saidfirst bearing comprises a ball race bearing.
 7. The appliance defined inclaim 5, wherein said second bearing comprises a needle race bearing. 8.The appliance defined in claim 1, wherein said base includes a platformwith said wheel assembly mounted thereto and said nozzle mounted thereonand a hood covering said platform and nozzle.
 9. The appliance of claim8, wherein said wheel assemblies are countersunk in said platform. 10.The appliance defined in claim 5, wherein said handle includes aremovable dirt cup operative to receive dirt from said nozzle.
 11. Theappliance defined in claim 1, further comprising electrical contactsprovided on said base for engaging an associated charger forre-energizing rechargeable batteries mounted to said handle.
 12. Theappliance defined in claim 1, wherein each of said wheel assembliesincludes a wheel that is castered on a plate attached to said base. 13.The appliance defined in claim 12, wherein said wheel assemblies are allenclosed by a cover of said base.
 14. A cleaning appliance comprising:(a) a base portion including a nozzle; (b) an upright handle portionpivotally mounted to said base portion; (c) a vacuum generator disposedin one of said handle portion and said base portion and communicatingwith the nozzle; and, (d) a plurality of wheels or rollers mounted tothe base portion for free rolling arrangement wherein an axis of eachwheel or roller is mounted for full rotation about a generally verticalaxis.
 15. The appliance defined in claim 14, wherein each wheel includesa first bearing.
 16. The appliance defined in claim 14, furthercomprising a second bearing for mounting each wheel for swiveling aboutthe vertical axis.
 17. The appliance defined in claim 14, furthercomprising a one piece axle with contra curvature for mounting eachwheel to said base portion.
 18. The appliance defined in claim 14,wherein each wheel is mounted to a plate in a freely swiveling mannerand wherein each plate is attached to the base in a countersunk manner.19. A cleaning appliance comprising: (a) base portion including asuction nozzle for movement over a floor surface to be cleaned; (b) anupright handle pivotally mounted to the base and including a suctiongenerator operatively connected to the suction nozzle; (c) a userremovable dirt cup assembly including a filter disposed thereonassociated with one of the upright handle and the base portion; and, (d)a wiper for agitating the filter during removal for effecting a shakingof dirt from the filter into the dirt cup.
 20. The appliance defined inclaim 19, wherein the filter is disposed over an open end of the cup.21. The appliance defined in claim 19, wherein the filter has a pleatedconfiguration.
 22. The appliance defined in claim 21, wherein aplurality of spaced wipers are provided.